Moelis & Company announces leadership transition

NEW YORK - Moelis & Company (NYSE: MC), a prominent global independent investment bank, has unveiled significant changes to its senior leadership structure set to take effect on October 1, 2025. Ken Moelis, the company’s founder and current CEO, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, the firm has maintained dividend payments for 12 consecutive years and achieved a remarkable 45.14% revenue growth in the last twelve months. In his new capacity, Moelis will continue to engage in client advisory, focusing on their most strategic decisions.

Navid Mahmoodzadegan, currently Co-President and a co-founder of the firm, is appointed as the new CEO and will also join the Board of Directors. Jeff Raich, another Co-President and co-founder, will be stepping into the role of Executive Vice Chairman, continuing to oversee key business segments within the firm.

The leadership changes are part of a long-term transition plan, aiming to leverage the firm’s internal talent and solidify its growth trajectory. With a strong gross profit margin of 92.43% and healthy liquidity ratios, the company appears well-positioned for this transition. Ken Moelis expressed confidence in the timing of the transition, citing the firm’s robust talent pool and extensive client service capabilities. For detailed analysis and additional insights, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro, which covers over 1,400 US equities. He highlighted Navid Mahmoodzadegan’s pivotal role in strategic growth initiatives and his track record as a strategic advisor.

Mahmoodzadegan, who has been instrumental in the firm’s journey since its inception, acknowledged the significance of client prioritization in the firm’s success and expressed enthusiasm for leading Moelis & Company during a crucial phase of its evolution. He emphasized the firm’s readiness to capitalize on future growth opportunities.

Jeff Raich remarked on the company’s entrepreneurial spirit and the collective achievements of the leadership trio over the past three decades. He looks forward to further innovating client solutions and advancing the firm’s growth strategies.

The announcement follows a history of strategic leadership at Moelis & Company, which has been known for its comprehensive advisory services and global client base since 2007. The firm’s professionals offer guidance on mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, restructurings, capital market transactions, and other corporate finance matters from multiple international locations.

This leadership transition is based on a press release statement from Moelis & Company.

In other recent news, Moelis & Company has reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, showing an adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.64. This figure was slightly below the estimate from Citizens JMP of $0.65, but above the consensus estimate of $0.59. The company’s revenues reached $307 million, marking a 41% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Despite this growth, Moelis faced elevated non-compensation expenses, which were 9% higher than anticipated due to seasonal factors. Citizens JMP has maintained a Market Perform rating on Moelis, citing the uncertainty in the market. Additionally, Morgan Stanley has downgraded Moelis’ stock rating from Overweight to Underweight, reducing the price target from $100 to $70. This decision reflects concerns over Moelis’ earnings sensitivity to market movements and a higher compensation ratio compared to peers. Furthermore, Ken Moelis, the current CEO, plans to step down and transition to the role of executive chairman, with Navid Mahmoodzadegan expected to assume the CEO position. This leadership change is part of a strategic transition that has been in the works for some time.

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